Search Results: comparing yourself

I'm not picking an MHO for this question. If one is picked, it was done automatically. I value everyone's answer on this one and am hoping to learn from your stories. Not sure where this question belongs so I'm going with the first suggestion GaG gives me. If I get it wrong, that is GaG's fault, not mine. I don't think a proper category exists on this site for this type of question.

Think back on where you were in life 10-15 years ago and compare to where you are now.

Did you achieve the dreams you had for yourself back then/are still pursuing them? If not, did you give up? Or did your priorities simply change the dreams you had? If you achieved those dreams, are you happy? If you did not, do you regret not achieving those dreams or are you glad life changed directions?

Are you happy with where you are now?

Do you miss how things were back then?

Are you still close friends with anyone from that time period?

What good changes have come over you?

What bad changes have come over you?

What would you change?

What would you do again?

Finally, the question of love. Did you and your high school sweetheart make it all the way? If not, have you found the love of your life? Or are you happy remaining single?

I'd love to hear everyone's journeys from that point in time until now. Feel free to go beyond the questions I've asked.

Some facts about lotto in the USA:

The taxation difference between a lump sum and annuity lottery payout primarily lies in the timing and amount of taxes paid. A lump sum payout is taxed immediately on the entire amount, often pushing the winner into the highest federal tax bracket of 37%. This results in a significant portion of the winnings being taxed upfront. In contrast, annuity payments are taxed annually as they are received, potentially at lower rates if future tax brackets are reduced or if the annual payout doesn't push the winner into the highest bracket.

Estimates suggest around 30% of lottery winners face bankruptcy within three to five years.

Lottery players in America tend to come from specific demographic groups:

Socioeconomic Status:
People in lower-income brackets spend a larger portion of their income on lottery tickets. The poorest households spend nearly 5% of their income on lotteries, while wealthier households spend much less.

Race and Ethnicity:
Blacks and Native Americans have higher average days of lottery play compared to other groups.

Gender:
Males play the lottery more frequently than females.

Age:
Lottery play peaks in the twenties and thirties, then declines with age.

The odds: gambling is often referred to as "a tax for people that are bad at math". Here's your proof:

Here are some events more likely than winning the lottery:

Struck by Lightning: 1 in 186,978 chance annually.

Attacked by a Shark: 1 in 11.5 million.

Dying in a Car Accident: 1 in 67,003.

Winning an Olympic Gold Medal: 1 in 662,0005.

The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are about 1 in 292.2 million.

Approximately 1% to 2.6% of the U. S. population has a gambling addiction, which translates to about 2 to 10 million people.

Bet with your head, not over it!